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Jazz Articles about Frank Gambale
The Light Beyond: Frank Gambale, Stuart Hamm and Steve Smith
by Josef Woodard
Reports of fusion's death have been greatly exaggerated. The cultural phenomenon, by which jazz and rock made a potent alliance during the '70s, generally slipped out of the public ear and major label consciousness, as jazz as a whole retreated into a more historicist, unplugged attitude. But out of corporate sight only out of corporate mind, and musicians have been courting the fusion muse on indie labels and just beneath the surface of mainstream jazz marketing ever since its heyday. ...
read moreRob Silverman: Drumology Volume 3
by Jim Worsley
The beat goes on. Yes, that was a big hit for Sonny & Cher back in 1967. However, here it references the third volume of drummer Rob Silverman's Drumology series. The formula seems to be working, so why not keep pounding them out? Again all proceeds go to the Neil Peart Fund for brain cancer research at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. And the core band stays intact, with Silverman being joined by brother Michael Silverman on piano and keyboards, bassist Larry ...
read moreChick Corea: The Montreux Years
by Doug Collette
If there is anything more ambitious than curating an extensive, comprehensive collection covering the history of an artist, it is collating selected works which vividly outline a particular timeline or theme. Chick Corea's The Montreux Years is a fine example of the latter; this seventh edition in the archive series devoted to the iconic festival not only reflects the late composer and pianist's technical skills, but also his eclectic stylistic tastes. And that is not to mention his fondness for ...
read moreThe Mothership Returns
by John Kelman
When keyboardist Chick Corea announced--following a successful world tour of his reunited 1970s-era fusion juggernaut Return to Forever, which, featuring guitarist Al Di Meola, bassist Stanley Clarke and drummer Lenny White, included a high octane 2008 performance that was one of the best-attended in the Ottawa International Jazz Festival's three-decade history--that he'd be reuniting the earlier incarnation of the group responsible for Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy (Polydor, 1973), there was plenty of buzz. He ultimately became the ...
read moreFrank Gambale: Natural Selection
by Jack Huntley
Frank Gambale, early Guitar Institute of Technology (GIT) whiz-kid and longtime guitarist in the Chick Corea Elektric Band, is known for his sweep-picking technique, fretboard virtuosity, and penchant for fusion jazz. But with his 2006 outing, Natural High (Wombat Records), and now 2010's Natural Selection, Gambale has shown off a more straight-ahead style that wonderfully couples his technical artistry with a focused, melodic swing. Aided on Natural Selection by the superb pianist, Otmaro Ruiz, and the equally interesting ...
read moreGHS: The Best of GHS
by Woodrow Wilkins
GHS is almost like listening to The Police without a human voice. The letters are the initials guitarist Frank Gambale, bassist Stu Hamm, and drummer Steve Smith. GHS is the anti-smooth ensemble from Tone Center Records. Their intent was to represent music fans who wanted more improvisation and more interaction among the players. Gambale spent several years with the Chick Corea Elektric Band as well as Smith's outfit, Vital Information. Hamm and Smith worked together on some of ...
read moreFrank Gambale: Parallel Lines
by John Kelman
Emerging in the mid-1980s, Australian-born guitarist Frank Gambale rose quickly to the upper end of the fusion food chain. While Scott Henderson was the first guitarist in keyboard legend Chick Corea's Elektric Band, it's Gambale who is best remembered for his work on a string of the band's albums beginning with Light Years (GRP, 1987). And when Corea decided to reform the quintet in the early part of this decade for an album and a couple of tours, it was ...
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